Apotex Recalls Three Drugs as Health Canada Investigation Continues

TORONTO — Canada's largest generic drug maker has voluntarily recalled three of its medications as a "precautionary measure" as it faces an investigation from Ottawa. The Apotex Inc. recall comes amid Health Canada inspections of its manufacturing facilities in the Toronto area. The drug maker was singled out three weeks ago when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an alert banning the export of pills made in two of Apotex's plants to the States. It is not clear whether the three recalled drugs were affected by that ban but Apotex says it is working toward a "prompt resolution" with the FDA. According to a letter sent to the company in June, a U.S. inspection of the plants last year found "significant deviations" from American manufacturing regulations. Recalled are apo-meloxicam, used in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis; apo-ranitidine, used for treating excess stomach acid; and apo-amilzide, used for maintenance therapy of patients with liver cirrhosis.(Globe and Mail)